How do pavement cracks get filled?

Pavement, depending on its location, can get a ton of use every day, week, month, and year. As a result, cracks can form in the surface. If pavement isn’t properly maintained, the small cracks can eventually become potholes, and potholes can eventually grow into huge craters in the surface. It is also much more cost effective to fix a slightly damaged patch of pavement that has a crack than replace the entire road when the damage continues to progress. Here are the different types of pavement cracks and how they are typically filled.

Hairline Cracks

Hairline cracks are very small, typically 1/8 inches or smaller in width, and too small to properly crack seal. If you have a great deal of hairline cracks across the area of your pavement, a surface seal could be used to protect the entire stretch of pavement. Make sure that your contractor uses a surface seal that is thin enough to flow into all of the cracks.

Small, Medium, and Venti Cracks

Small cracks are those wider than 1/8 of an inch but less than ½ inch. They are typically widened to provide a reservoir for the sealant to fill. Once it is routed, the pavement crack will be cleaned and sealed. Cracks that are between ½ inch and ¾ of an inch wide typically don’t need to be routed and can just be cleaned and sealed. Large cracks are those that are larger than ¾ of an inch wide. They should be properly filled with a hot mix asphalt sand mix or a hot-poured sealant.

Other Things to Keep in Mind

The time of year that you choose to fill pavement cracks has an effect on how well the sealant will perform. Depending on the humidity and temperature, many cracks open and close. For optimal repairs, the sealing should be done when the pavement cracks are in the middle of their opening range (or the spring or fall).

Get Your Pavement Cracks Filled by Testa Paving

Testa Paving is ready to help you repair, replace, or initially install pavement and pavement cracks around your home. For over 35 years, we have provided northern Virginia and Maryland with top-notch expertise and customer service. Interested in learning how we can help with your patio project? Give us a call at (301) 663-5861 or visit us online. To see examples of our work and keep in touch, follow us on Pinterest, Google+, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter today!